Shutter-fastener



SHUTTER FASTENER- No. 459,080. Patented Sept. 8, 1891;

Eur? Eg'l l i ii n d 5 0 J e? Z a UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

lVILLlAM R. CLARK AND GEORGE XV. BRODIE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTER-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,080, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed May 1,1891- Serial No. 391,203. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM R. CLARK and GEORGE TV. BRODIE, citizens of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blind-Catches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in blind-catches for holding the blinds of abuilding in an open position and preventing them from slamming.

It consists in providing means of adj ustment to allow for variations in the positions occupied by the lower portions of the blinds in relation to the seams or joints between the bricks of a brick building when the blinds are open also, to compensate for the sagging of the blinds from continued use. i

The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereon Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved catch, showing the same driven into the seam of a brick building and holding a blind in an open position. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the catch and showing a vertical section on the line A B in Fig. 1 of a portion of the brick-work and blind of a brick building. Fig. 3 representsa horizontal section 011 the line C D in Fig. 2,showinga plan View of the catch. Figs. 4 and 5 represent modified forms of the improved catch.

Similar letters refer to similar parts on the different figures of the drawings.

The support a for the catch is made in the form of a spike, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, adapted to be driven into the seams between the bricks when the catch is used 011 brick buildings, or in the form of a suitable bracket, asshown in Figs. at and 5, adapted to be fastened to the building by screws or nails a a when the catch is used on wooden buildings.

WVithin a perforation in the outer end of the support a is adj ustably mounted an upright bolt or rod bby means of a screw-thread on the bolt and providing the perforation in the outer end of the support with a cone spouding screw-thread,into which the bolt is screwed, and, if so desired, providing the bolt with a check-nut b, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5; or the bolt may be made plain and inserted within the perforation in the bracket CL and held firmly by means of a set-screw a as shown in Fig. 4; or the bolt may be provided with other and well-known means of adjustment within the scope of mechanical skill without departing from'the spirit of this portion of our invention. The upper portion of the bolt or bar Z) is provided with the catch proper C, which we prefer to make in the form of a lever c, pivoted at c to said rod. The outer end is provided with asufficient weight to overbalance the opposite or inner end of the lever, so as to tend to keep the inner end in an elevated position at all times. The inner end of the lever c is provided with an cecentric or cam-shaped face 0", adapted to press against the outside of the blind (Z and to hold it firmly against the building 6.

Any of the well-known catches may be attached to the upper end of the adjustable rod 1), according to the kind of fastening used on the blind, and we have shown one of the various kinds at f in Fig. 5.

The manner of attaching our improved catch is as follows: The blind is swung to an open position and the spike or bracket a attached to the outer wall of the building in the most convenient position, according to the position of the seams of the brick-work or of the clapboards, after which the rod or bolt 1) is adjusted up or down, so as to bring the upper end of the bolt just below the lower edge of the blind as the blind swings by it. As the outer end of the lever c is weighted, it will tend to turn said lever on its fulcrum 6, carrying the inner end of the lever to its higher position, as shown in Fig. at.

Supposing the blind to be closed, the operation of our improved catch is as follows: The blind is swung open and the lower edge there of comes in contact with the upper edge of the inner end of the lever c, forcing said inner end downward and holding it in its depressed position until the blind has passed by the end of the lever, when its weighted outer end will cause the inner end to move upward, and as the length of the spike or bracket 0. is properly arranged it will cause IOO the cam-shaped portion 0 to come in contact with the outer surface of theblind and hold the blind firmly by the influence of the Weighted end a of the lever 0 between the outer sur face of the building and the cam-shaped face 0 of the lever. If the blind should become sagged so as to preventit from being held by the catch, the rod 1) may be adjusted, as above described, so as to bring the lever c or any other form of catch mounted thereon to the desired position to catch the blind.

This our improved catch is applicable for holding doors as Well as blinds, and We do not Wish to confine ourselves to any particular use to which it may be put.

It Will be seen that our improved catch acts automatically in catching the blind when it is opened, but is manipulated by hand when it is desired to close the blinds. This automatic action of the catch prevents the liability of leaving the blind unfastened so as slam, as is the case with the turn-button now in common use on brick buildings.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of our invention, We Wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim 1. In a catch for blinds, doors, &c., a supporting spike or bracket combined with a catch mounted thereon, and means for adjustment of said catch at an angle to said spike or bracket to compensatefor sagging of the blind or door or the position occupied by said 

